Apparatus for thoroughly intermingling gases or vapors with molten substances



April 12, 1932. p, WEFELSCHEID ,8

APPARATUS FOR wnonoueam mmnmmemue egsss on VAPORSVWI'IH MOLTEN suasuncns F'iled Feb. 17, 1951 "PAUL WHESOHEID, OF BRAUBAOK-ON-THE-BHDIE, GERMANY," ASSIGNOB TO' 'le may be mentioned the refining of lead i rom zinc by means of chlorine gas. This has hitherto been carried out b introducingithe gases under pressure direct y into the molten I a vessel whlch contains the gas. The devicesv of the last-named type for introducing gas;

Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED S ATES PATENT ,OPQFICE AIBBICLN LUBGI CORPORATION, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y, A CORPORATION OI NEW YORK mm'rus roa 'rnoaouenmr m'rnmnuonme ours on auns'rmcns.

varons wrrn xourn'n Application filed February 17, 1981, Serial Io. 516,489, andin Germany IarohilB, 1980.

This inventionrelates to apparatus for thoroughly intermingling gases or vapors with molten substances, particularly with molten metals or alloys. 4

Itis necessary in many cases, to bring substances in vapor phase into contact with molten substan'ces,for' example with molten metals or alloys, so as to purify same by removing certam constituents. As an examath, or by pumping the molten metal through ,into molten baths su I er from the drawback that an excessive expenditure of power is necessary for carrying out the pumping operation. Moreover the known rocesses as a whole suffer from the drawbac that the gases and the melt do not come into such intimate contact'as is required for attaining the object of the process. For these reasonsthe known processes take a very long time before the operation is completed, which entails a large consumption of fuel and an excessive expenditure of labour.

The present invention relates-to apparatus for thoroughly intermingling gases ,or vapors with molten substances and particularly with molten metals or alloys, according to which the aforesaid drawbacks are obviated. The apparatus consists of a centrifthe accompanying drawing, which illustrates diagrammatically and by way of example, one embodiment of the apparatus suitable for carryingout the inventionand the working I thereof.

- In said drawing,1 depicts a vessel which is filled with molten metal. 2 is a centrifugal pump dipping into the molten-metal bath, said ump being driven by an electric motor 3. he pump and motor are mounted u on a frame 4, constructed of wrought iron. he

whole apparatus consisting ofpump, motor and the frame can be raised andremoved from the'bath by means 'ofrlifting tackle. The depth of immersion of the pump in the molten metal bath can be adjusted as desired by'means of asuitable device, and in the pres-' ent case, by means of adjustin screws 5 which are situated at the ends. of t frame 4. A suction pipe 6 with a suction; port '1 for the molten metal is provided underneath the pump. 7 The gas delivery pipe 8 also debouches simultaneousl into'the suction pipe 6., 9 is the delivery pipe for thecentrifugal pump and .10 is the delivery port.

the arrow, obtains accessto the suction pipe and enters the pump body in conjunction with the molten metal. By increasing or diminishing the size of the suction port 7 by means of a throttling'fiange 11, the pressure therein can be reduced toany desired extent; The

mixture of gas and metal entering-into the pump body 2 is intermingled to an extremely thorough extent on account of therotation of the vane wheel of the pump, so that the particles of metal and the gas are brought into mutual contact in a very fine state of subdivision. A rapid reaction therefore occurs be tween the components by virtue of this thorough intermingling and the reaction product is. then delivered into the metal bath toether with the molten metal through the deivery pipe 9, and may either separate out on the surface of said metal bath, or when it is in a gaseous .state, will escape therefrom.

Obviously, instead of producing an artificial vacuum in the suction pipe 6, the apparatus can also work by delivering the gas to the suction pipe under pressure. When the reaction between the metal and the gas in the interior of the pipe 9 is also intended to take place under elevated pressure, this can be effected in various ways. Thus for.example,it maybe ef-' fected by attaching a throttling flange 12 to the delivery port and by suitably increasing the speed of rotation of alternatively,

pump body or the delivery inlet for the substance in vapor base and the outlet are positioned beneath t e surface of the molten substance.v I 1 In testimony whereof I afiix m signature. PAUL WEFEL CHEID.

the'vane wheel ofthe pump or by employing a multistage pump or The apparatus of the presentinvention possesses vthe essential advantage that the entire reaction between the gas and metal takes place underneath the surface of the molten metal and therefore cannot be affected by the atmosphere. Another characteristics feature is that the components are brought into extremely intimate contact and are very finely subdivided, the result of which is that a more rapid and intensive reaction between the gas and metal takes place than was possible with the devices hitherto employed.- The present.

apparatus thu'senables the process to be shortened and a considerable saving in fuel and labour tobe obtained also. In addition, the present apparatus has the advantage over the known apparatus in'that an exceeding small consumption of power is required since the metal is only agitated within the metal bath, that is to say, no difference in pressure has to be overcome. I I v In many cases, it may also beof advantage not to allow'the reaction products to return v it directly into the sam'emetal bath, but to convey them to another place of use. for example, to another vessel or into another molten metal bath or the like. ously be efi'ected in the most simple way by suitably shifting the delivery pipe, no increase in the consumption of power being occasioned thereby. It is to be understood that the present invention is also applicable in a similar way to the intermingling of gases or a driving means, the

vapors with liquid substances in general,

apart from molten substances. I claim 1. Apparatus or contacting a substance in vapor phase with a molten substance which comprises a centrifugal pump connected to a pump body being provided with a suction opening for introducing. the molten substance, an inlet for the substance in vapor phase, and an outlet for the contacted substances.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for effecting contact of the sub- This can also obvi'- 

